Adjustable storage rack and beam constructions therefor



July 13, 1965 J. c. KlMPTON 3,194,408

ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK AND BEAM CONSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR Annnuunnnonubmmlnuuonqnu Filed Oct. 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 j u 2 l 1D D 3 D A? w 3 A g 4 mg? l D U U D D V D D 3// /4 U U U D D g D D D U UU U I 1 u unannounced y 13, 1955 J. KIMPTON 3,194,408

ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK AND BEAM CONSTRUGTIONS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 9,1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Q75Z71 61/5 1777 77.

7mm @QZ? July 13, 1965 J. c. KIMPTON ADJUSTABLE STORAGE BACK AND BEAMCONSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR Filed Oct; 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MD H.

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- INVENTOR. -75Z7r 6'. Kim 172 072 B v ./4 p

United States Patent O ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK AND BEAM CONSTRUCTIONSTHEREFOR John C. Kimpton, Livonia, Mich., assignor to Palmer- ShileCompany, Detroit, .Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 9, 1962,Ser. No. 229,385

11 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) This invention relates to adjustable storageracks and beam constructions therefor. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to improved adjustable storage racks which may beassembled to accommodate various types of material to be stored instacked condition, and the configuration of rail or beam members used insuch racks.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved adjustablestorage rack which greatly reduces both manufacturing and shipping costsfor a rack of specified capacity, and permits increased capacity in arack fabricated with a specified amount of metal.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved adjustablestorage rack construction in which, for

a specified capacity, beam members of less cross-sectional height may beused, thus decreasing the total necessary height for each storage leveland in some cases permitting the addition of an extra storage level ineach rack section.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved beammember construction which has increased resistance to deflective andtorsional forces, and which is also useful in racks used for storingdifferent types of merchandise requiring identification.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedbeam member construction for storage racks which increases manufacturingeconomy.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description, the appended claims andthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of several sections of the novelstorage rack embodying the present invention and showing the same inassembled relationship;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one section of the rack illustrated in FIG.1 taken in the direction of the arrows 22 and illustrating the relativelength and width of a typical section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the structure illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG.-4 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the beam membersillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the beam member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 andshowing the cross-sectional configuration of the beam member;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the beam memberillustrating the dimensional ratio ranges of beam members embodying theinvention; and 1 FIGS. 8A and 8B ,set forth tabulations of test resultswhich facilitate a comparison of conventional channel section beams withbeams embodying the present invention.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an adjustablestorage rack havinga plurality of vertical 3,194,408 Patented July 13,1965 "ice end units of identical shape and a plurality of horizontalbeam members, the latter being provided in the desired number andlengths as required for the particular installation. The end units eachhave front and rear posts connected by cross members and are adapted tobe placed in horizontally spaced relationship in accordance with thelengths of the beam members, the various components of the end unitspreferably being formed of steel or other structural materials havingsufficient strength to withstand the forces exerted thereon. The ends ofthe beam members have connecting means for attachment to the front andrear posts at any of various desired levels, the vertical spacing of thebeam members being chosen in accordance with storage requirements.

The beam portion of each beam member may be formed from fiat or sheetsteel, or other suitable structural material having a substantiallyconstant thickness, and has a novel cross-sectional configuration. Thisconfiguration comprises upper and lower horizontal flange portions, avertical web portion between and spaced from the flange portions anddisposed between imaginary vertical planes connecting the edges of theflange portions, and two inclined web portions, one connecting the upperedge of the verticalweb portion with one edge of the upper flangeportion, and the other connecting the lower edge of the vertical webportion with one edge of the lower flange portion. Preferably, thehorizontal distance between a flange portion edge connected to thevertical web portion and an imaginary extension of the vertical webportion is between 40% and of the total beam width. The height of thevertical web portion is preferably between 20% and 60% of the total beamheight. The total width of the beam is between 25% and 65% of the totalbeam height.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a storage rack embodyingthe present invention is generally indicated at 11 and comprises aplurality of end units generally indicated at 12, and beam membersgenerally indicated at 13. Each end unit 12 comprises front and reargenerally channel sectioned posts 14 and 15 with cross braces 16 anddiagonal braces 17 connecting the posts 14 and 15 to form a rigid unit.The height of the posts 14 and 15 is such that each end unit 12 may fitwithin the vertical confines of a warehouse or other storage area. Theposts 14 and 15 are provided with vertically spaced slotted portions 18pressed outwardly from the web portions of the posts without removingmaterial therefrom for mounting a plurality of beam members 13 at thedesired height, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Each beam member 13 comprises an elongated member having a novelcross-sectional configuration, described hereinafter in greater detail,and connecting members 19 and 21 secured to opposite ends thereof, asshown in FIG. 4. Each connecting member is of generally L- shaped crosssection, as shown in FIG. 5, having one flange secured to the end of thebeam 13. The other flange of each connecting member has a plurality ofdownwardly extending post-engaging teeth 22, as shown in FIG. 4. Theconnecting members 19 and 21 are of opposite hands, as shown in FIG. 5,and are adapted to interlock with the posts 14 and 15 in a mannerdescribed in detail in United States Patent No. 3,044,633, issued July17, 1962, to E. A. Baker, Jr. and assigned to the t 3,1 assignee of thepresent invention. When so assembled, the storage rack '11 may be formedin adjacent sections as shown in FIGURE 1, the sections beinginterconnected in thateachpost 14'or 15 may receive connecting members19 and 21 of the beam members '13 fextending'in both directionstherefrom. When sorassembled, the beam members are rigidly interlockedwith the end units due 7 to the engagement of the, teeth 22 in the slots18 which hold the connecting members against the posts; The

7 heights of the beam members 13 in each section of stor-v age rack 11may be chosen to suit individual requirements,

material or that is, in accordance with the height of the merchandise tobe stored on the rack. a

As shown in FIG; 2, no front-to-rearinterconnecting means are normallyprovided between the beam members 13 secur'edto the front and rear postsHand livexcept,

This facilitates quick assembly and disassembly of the storage racks,but places a requirement. on the" beam members'that they be ofsuflicient strength to Withstand the interconnecting means provided bythe end units 12.?

distributed along the entire length of the beam members 7, 13,'with theresult that the bending and torsional loads on the beam members arequite severe.v lt may'also be observed (see FIGURE 1) that as the heightof each a beam member cross section incerases, the free space avail-sable for storage between the beam members decreases. In accordance withthe present invention, each beam member 13 is provided with'a novelcross-sectional-configuration which is of special adv'antageincombination with the'other components of the storage rack -11.

The construction of each beam member. 13 is shown in web portion 26 anda lower inclinedweb portion 27, these portions being 'faired into each'other by curved connecting radii portions.

as equidistantly spaced from the flange portions 23;arid

24. The upper inclined web portion 26 connects the upper edge of thevertical web portion 25 withtone edge of the upper flange portion 23.while the lower inclined web portion 26 connects the lower edge ofthe-vertical web'portion 25 with one edge of the lower flange portion24. In the illustrated embodiment, the'web portions 26 and 27 areconnected to'the edges of the flange portion 23 Y -The flange portions23 and 24 are'in vertically spaced relationship, being contained'betweenimaginaryvertical planes, indicated at 28' and 29,." In the embodimentof the invention illustrated, the vertical web portion25is:shown and 24,respectively, which lie in the vertical plane 281 Thehorizontal distanceA between plane 28and an irn'aginary extension of the web portion 25'is'between 40%, and 65% of the total width Ffof the beam 13. ITheheightB of the web portion 25 is between 20% and of the total height D ofthebeam 13. The total vWidth F of'the V beam 13 is preferablybetween 25%and of its total.

height DJ 7 a A'beam having the characteristics. when subjected to loadsof the type norless'resistance to deflection and twisting forcesd Forspecified capacity requirements, substantially less metal and a' lessertotal height D have been found necessary cross-sectional configuration 7V p p 65, V above-described construction has a I been found to exhibitsubstantially improved load-carrying when vusing the novel; beam(configuration as compared with conventional'shapes.

As an examplejor a conventional channels'ection-beam' f memberfof thecross-sectional shape shown in FIGrSA ;having a l-spaln or total lengthof 106 inches and a rated or safe capacityof 5800-pounds per pair ofbeams, the:

following dimensions and other characteristics werefound 1' necessary:

10 Span: 106 11101168.;

- sectioned inches (height) X 3 inched wrath ha, 7

Rated capacity per pair: 5800 lbs. j r

gauge. :7 r Blank size: 10%; inches X 106 Weight perbeam: 56.9lbs. V V'Maxirnum'twist at rated load: 6.5 v

Maximum deflection atratedloadfOlBQl ihches i tefq gan s; 1;

A beamof ltle in'ch sp'anhand 6 Q00t pounds rated capac-{ ity formed ofthe same imetal and embodying the novel f 3 ot the presentinventienhadthe following characteristics:

I Span: 106 inches;

Rated capacity'per pair'zl6000 'lbs.

Sect-ion:'4 /2 -inches i tyx Zin-clies (width) x No.7

gauges: V V Blank size 6 8%; inches X'1'06' inches X No.7 gauge. 1Weight perbeam:.4' 5;9 lbs; A i Twistatratedload: 23.; c Deflectionatratedloadi0330inch. I 1 7 Thus, each conventional ,bearn mernber,weighed '11 V i pounds more than one constructed, according {to theIinvention; required /2 inch; more 'clearancetwisted 4.51 '1and-deflected only 0.029, inchfil'es siat 7 more atr-ated load; ratedl'oad.-

V In FIGS: 'SA'ancl SBthere areset tforth tabulatiohs of test resultswhich facilitate a further'comparis'on of'corh s ventional channelsection: beams iwithbeam s embodying 1 the, present inven tion.- Each ofbeams listed in FIG- URES 8A and 8B was rnanufa'ctu'red fromihot rolled7 commercial quality, II.S.;s t andard gaugeinild'steelihavinggj w nArsrtdesi tihh r 0-1917. ra xhm i thpahor beamseac h 108 inches'inlength,and .;for1nedl of Z-gaug'e'j;

steel with the above mention'ed specifications so'as tohave, j

a conventional channel section illustrated in FIGQsA with a heighttA).of 4 /2 inchesya-nd a widthtB) of'2 /Iinehes. 2 Werefound to have ayield point per pair;of56,6'Q0" pounds I andeach bearnweighed 5.470pounds pertddtlf A-pa'irofi I p v v beams 108 incheslongformedfoffi-gauge steel Withvt'he, same above-mentionedspecifications sons to have a cross sectional configuration "embodyingthe preseru i invention and a height A of 3 6 inches and a wi'dth. (B),or 1% inchestw ere found-to haveia yield point of 6,600 pounds per pairand eag hibeam'iweighed 4.25s; suhds3p r*mhh Thus,the@bearns embodying;the presentinventionihad the same capacity as thek onventionaliehannelisection beams, b 'iwa r 1 /1 inches less-than thatof'theconventional; ea'rns and V the beams embodying the presentinventionmeighed 1.212 c e I poundslperfoot less thanthe conventional:channel sec tiorr'beams. Ihus a nine-foot beam embodying the pres-r ent:invention weighedi10.,908: pounds; 1$sthan the con-J ventional-bearn;Assuming; for example, that each 'sec- 7 tion of the rackillustrated inFIGURE 1 had; three]? shelves, sixbearnsrwould berequiredand-stheibearns em-. Q bodying the present invention require65.'44 8 pound's'.less steel per section of .threeshelvesuthan theconventionalj V beamsthaving the same capacity. Other," comparisons as,1- to the advantages of the presentjinvention may: be readily made-byreferringto FIGS48Aand8Bj.

following the principles of the invention, and for a specified capacity,less metal will be required, thus reducing both manufacturing andshipping costs. The decrease in required beam height will increase thetotal available storage space in each rack section, and, in someinstallations, this would permit the addition of another level in eachsection, thereby increasing the total volume available for storage, orin the alternative permit a reduction in the total number of sectionsand the floor space required. The recess defined by the web portions 25,26, 27 provided when beam 13 is constructed as shown in FIGURE 7, alsoaffords a protected area for labels for identifying the rack openingsand the material stored therein.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A beam comprising first and second spaced parallel flanges, the outersurface of at least one of said flanges having two laterally spacedcoplanar areas near the flange edges simultaneously engageable by a loadextending across said beam, a web comprising a central web portionperpendicular to and between said flanges and spaced therefrom, saidcentral web portion being spaced a substantial lateral distance fromboth pairs of corresponding flange edges, a first inclined web portionconnecting one edge of said central web portion with one edge of saidfirst flange, and a second inclined web portion connecting the otheredge of said central web portion with one edge of said second flange.

Z. A beam comprising first and second spaced parallel flat flanges, aweb comprising a central web portion perpendicular to and between saidflanges and spaced therefrom, said central web portion being spaced asubstantial lateral distance from both pairs of corresponding flangeedges, a first inclined web portion connecting one edge of said centralweb portion with one edge of said first flange, and a second inclinedWeb portion connecting the other edge of said web central portion withone edge of said second flange.

3. A beam comprising first and second spaced parallel flanges, the outersurface of at least one of said flanges having two laterally spacedcoplanar areas near the flange edges simultaneously engageable by a loadextending across said beam, a web comprising a central web portionperpendicular to and between said flanges and spaced therefrom, saidcentral web portion being spaced a sub stantial lateral distance fromboth pairs of corresponding flange edges, a first inclined web portionconnecting one edge of said central web portion with one edge of saidfirst flange, and a second inclined web portion connecting the otheredge of said central web portion with the corresponding edge of saidsecond flange.

4. A beam comprising first and second spaced parallel flat flanges, aweb comprising a central web portion perpendicular to and between saidflanges and spaced therefrom, said central web portion being spaced asubstantial lateral distance from both pairs of corresponding flangeedges, a first inclined web portion connecting one edge of said centralweb portion with one edge of said first flange, and a second inclinedweb portion connecting the other edge of said central web portion withthe corresponding edge of said second flange.

5. A beam comprising first and sec-ond spaced parallel flat flanges aweb comprising a central web portion perpendicular to and between saidflanges and spaced therefrom, said central web portion being spaced asubstantial lateral distance from both pairs of corresponding flangeedges, a first inclined web portion connecting one edge of said centralweb portion with one edge of said first flange, and a second inclinedweb portion connecting the other edge of said central web portion withone edge of said second flange, said central web portion being laterallyspaced from one of said pairs of corresponding flange edgesapproximately 40% to 65% of the distance between said pairs ofcorresponding flange edges, the width of said central web portion beingapproximately 20% to 60% of the total size of said beam cross sectionbetween the outer surfaces of said flanges.

6. A beam comprising first and second spaced parallel flat flanges, aweb comprising a central web portion perpendicular to and between saidflanges and spaced therefrom, said central web portion being spaced asubstantial lateral distance from both pairs of corresponding flangeedges, a first inclined web portion connecting one edge of said centralweb portion with one edge of said first flange, and a second inclinedweb portion connecting the other edge of said central web portion withone edge of said second flange, the distance between the opposite pairsof corresponding flange edges being approximately 25% to 65% of thetotal size of said beam cross section between the outer surfaces of saidflanges.

7. A beam formed from initially flat metal stock comprising first andsecond spaced parallel flat flanges, a web comprising a central Webportion perpendicular to and between said flanges and spaced therefrom,said central web portion being spaced a substantial lateral distancefrom both pairs of corresponding flange edges, a first inclined webportion connecting one edge of said central web portion with one edge ofsaid first flange, and a second inclined web portion connecting theother edge of said central web portion with the corresponding edge ofsaid second flange.

8. A beam formed from initially flat metal stock comprising first andsecond spaced parallel flat flanges, a web comprising a central webportion perpendicular to and between said flanges and spaced therefrom,said central web portion being spaced a substantial lateral distancefrom both pairs of corresponding flange edges, a first inclined webportion connecting one edge of said central web portion with one edge ofsaid first flange, and a second inclined Web portion connecting theother edge of said central web portion with one edge of said secondflange, the distance between the opposite pairs of corresponding flangeedges being approximately 25% to 65% of the total size of said beamcross section between the outer surfaces of said flanges.

9. A beam formed from initially flat metal stock comprising first andsecond spaced parallel flat flanges, a web comprising a central webportion perpendicular to and between said flanges and spaced therefrom,said central web portion being spaced a substantial lateral distancefrom both pairs of corresponding flange edges, a first inclined webportion connecting one edge of said central web portion with one edge ofsaid first flange, and a second inclined web portion connecting theother edge of said central web portion with the corresponding edge ofsaid second flange, the distance between the opposite pairs ofcorresponding flange edges being approximately 25% to 65 of the totalsize of said beam cross section between the outer surfaces of saidflanges, the width of said central web portion being approximately 20%to 60% of the total size of said beam cross section between the outersurfaces of said flanges.

10. A beam member for use in conjunction with an adjustable storage rackcomprising a beam and connecting members secured to the opposite ends ofsaid beam, said beam having upper and lower flat horizontal flanges, aweb comprising a vertical web portion between said flanges and spacedtherefrom, said vertical web portion being spaced a substantialhorizontal distance from both pairs of corresponding flange edges, afirst inclined web portion connecting the upper edge of said verticalweb portion with one edge of said upper flange, and a second inclinedweb portion connecting the lower edge of said vertical web portion withthe corresponding edge of said lower flange.

11. A rack construction comprising a plurality of end units each havingfront and rear posts and cross members v sponding edge of said lowerflange.

connecting said posts'pto form a rigid'unit,;front and rear beam membersconnecting frontwand rear posts, respectively, ofadjace'nt end: u nits,eachfbe'arn member cornt prisinga-bearn having connecting members atopposite,

ends thereof adapted vto be removably mounted on;said front or "rearposts, each beam having-upper and lower flat horizontalifianges, a .webfcomprising 'am'vertical web portion between said-flanges andspacedtherefrom; said;

Vertical :web portion beingspaced a substantial horizontal distancerfromboth-pairs'of corresponding flange edges,

a first inclined Web portionyoonnecting the uppe edge .of said verticalweb portion with one edge of Said lipp'er flange, and a second inclinedWeb portion connecting the lower edge of 'said vertical web portion withthe corre-' gnereren e -caenw h nxammer UNITED; STATES amranrsq i C AUDALE oy-Primary Exami r."

4. A BEAM COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED PARALLEL FLAT FLANGES, AWEB COMPRISING A CENTRAL WEB PORTION PERPENDICULAR TO AND BETWEEN SAIDFLANGES AND SPACED THEREFROM, SAID CENTRAL WEB PORTION BEING SPACED ASUBSTANTIAL LATERAL DISTANCE FROM BOTH PAIRS OF CORRESPONDING FLANGEEDGES, A FIRST INCLINED WEB PORTION CONNECTING ONE EDGE OF SAID CENTRALWEB PORTION WITH ONE EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE, AND A SECOND INCLINEDWEB PORTION CONNECTING THE OTHER EDGE OF SAID CENTRAL WEB PORTION WITHTHE CORRESPONDING EDGE OF SAID SECOND FLANGE.